Daily Rewards! Transmigrating into a novel as a side-character!

After leaving the blacksmithing room, I saw Elen leaving the adjacent room with an excited look on her face.

"Adrian! Oh my god, you were right. Although I have failed the first few times, I learned from the mistakes I made and I was finally able to make a mortal grade potion...Although It was more expensive to make it than to actually to buy it from the store, haha." Elen scratched the side of her head.

Looking at this scene unfold, I couldn't help but smile at Elen's infectious enthusiasm. The pride radiating from her was well-deserved after what must have been hours of frustrating attempts before finally succeeding.

I laughed at her admission about the cost exceeding the potion's value. "That's the beauty of learning, isn't it? The first attempts are always expensive lessons, but each failure teaches you something invaluable."

Elen's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm despite her slight embarrassment. "Exactly! I made so many mistakes in the beginning - wrong proportions, improper heating temperatures, even mixing incompatible ingredients. But each failure showed me exactly what not to do next time."

"Well, congratulations, Elen," I said, genuinely pleased for her achievement. "Making your first successful potion is always a milestone, regardless of the cost. The experience and knowledge you gained from those failed attempts is invaluable."

She beamed at my words, her earlier embarrassment about the expense clearly forgotten in the excitement of success. "Indeed, you were absolutely right about failure being a teacher. Each mistake showed me exactly what I was doing wrong - timing the heat, measuring proportions, understanding how my water manipulation could enhance the mixing process."

"What type of mortal grade potion did you manage to create?" I asked, curious about her first successful brew.

"A basic healing potion," she replied, pulling out a small vial filled with a soft, glowing green liquid. "It's not particularly potent, but it's properly stabilized and should provide minor wound healing to Noble-rank awakeners. The magical resonance feels right, unlike my earlier attempts that felt... off."

I examined the potion briefly, noting the consistent color and gentle luminescence that indicated proper magical binding. "The clarity is impressive for a first success. Your water manipulation clearly gives you an advantage in controlling liquid consistency."

Elen nodded eagerly. "That's exactly what I discovered! I can sense the density changes during the brewing process and adjust accordingly. It's like having an internal guide for when the mixture is reaching the right state."

"Have you considered experimenting with water-based enhancement potions next?" I suggested. "Given your natural affinity, you might find unique applications that other alchemists overlook."

Her eyes lit up with new possibilities. "I hadn't thought of that! Most standard recipes don't account for elemental manipulation during the brewing process. I could potentially develop variations that are more potent or efficient."

"Exactly. Innovation often comes from applying your unique strengths to traditional methods."

As we walked toward the exit together, I could see Elen's mind already racing with new experimental ideas, her earlier anxiety about failure completely replaced by excited determination to push her skills further.

"And what about you?" Elen asked, her curious gaze shifting to me as we continued walking. "How did your blacksmithing session go? I imagine it must have been quite different from alchemy."

"It went alright," I replied with a modest shrug. "I learned a few things about working with different materials and managed to create an arrow. Nothing too spectacular, but it was good practice."

Her eyebrows raised with genuine interest. "Oh really? Can I see it? I've never actually seen a handcrafted arrow before. Most of the ones we use in training are mass-produced academy equipment."

I paused for a moment, then withdrew one of the arrows I had crafted during my session from my storage ring. The arrow gleamed subtly in the corridor lighting.

"Here," I said, holding it out for her inspection. "I experimented with incorporating some Mithril strands into the shaft for durability while keeping it lightweight."

Elen's eyes widened as she carefully took the arrow, immediately noticing its unusual weight distribution. "This is... incredibly light," she murmured, turning it over in her hands with obvious fascination. "But it feels incredibly sturdy too. The balance is perfect."

She examined the arrowhead more closely, noting the diamond-shaped cross-section and the subtle golden inlays. "Are these Orichalcum traces in the tip? Adrian, this isn't just 'alright' work - this looks like professional craftsmanship. The precision of these inlays alone would take most beginners months to achieve."

"I had some good materials to work with," I said, deflecting her praise while watching her continued examination of the arrow with growing appreciation for her keen eye.

Elen continued to examine the arrow with evident admiration. "The way you've woven the Mithril through the shaft... it's not just functional, it's actually beautiful. Although, I don't really understand much about blacksmithing, I can tell that you've done a really good job."

Elen then brought her index finger to the sharp pointy tip. I immediately grabbed her hand. "Stop. You will hurt yourself, it's really sharp."

"Oh...Thank you," Elen nodded her head shyly before pulling her hand away.

Somewhat embarrassed by what had just transpired, Elen handed the arrow back to me. I noticed her expression had shifted slightly. While still appreciative, there was a hint of deflation in her posture, a subtle comparison she was making between her single healing potion and the strong arrow in my hands.

"Thank you," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It really is impressive craftsmanship."

Sensing her mood change, I carefully returned the arrow to my storage pouch before addressing what I suspected she was thinking. "I should mention, I've had practice before, so this isn't my first time working with a forge or these materials."

Her head snapped up, surprise replacing the earlier disappointment. "Really? You have prior blacksmithing experience?"

"Yes, I've had some experience. In fact, this is also my second time entering these rooms, so I'm also familiar with the equipment and everything, which makes it easier."